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The Stow boys basketball program will be honoring the achievements of three past teams in celebration of their 30th anniversary Friday when Hudson visits for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.

The players and coaches from the teams of the classes 1984, 1985 and 1986 will be introduced and recognized before the start of the varsity game.

These three teams were led by coach Harold Adkins and compiled a combined 54-6 overall regular season record. The teams were also the first teams in Metro League history to win three consecutive league titles.

“What phenomenal years those were,” Adkins said. “After having coached for 19 years, the 1984-1985 undefeated season undoubtedly remains unforgettable for many reasons. First of all, not only were the players extremely talented, but also hard-working, dedicated, unselfish, so coachable, and most importantly, truly really nice young men. And we had fun.”

Senior Deric Rucker scored 21 points to lead Buchtel, which is 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the City Series. Seniors Talen Sims (19 points) and La’Shawn Johnson (10 points) also reached double figures for the Griffins.

“We are still coming together as a team,” Buchtel coach Stephen White said. “We are still doing some sloppy stuff out there, but I think we will come together and get better.”

Buchtel, the defending City Series champions, opened the season in Pennsylvania with a vistory over Erie East (Pa.) and a loss to Farrell (Pa.). The Griffins followed that up with wins over North and Garfield

Gerry Rardin has announced he is retiring after 35 years as the Walsh Jesuit football coach.

Rardin guided Walsh to a state title in 1999 in Division II. The Warriors defeated Lake in a state semifinal 14-10 in Massillon's Paul Brown Tiger Stadium and Sylvania Southview in the state final 19-18 in Canton's Fawcett Stadium.

Walsh advanced to the playoffs in 17 of Rardin's 35 seasons, including this year's team which finished 7-4.

Rardin compiled a record of 253-119-2 according to Akron Beacon Journal records.

The second annual Girls High School All-American Game will include Walsh Jesuit coach Dino McIntyre and Warriors senior Halle Stelbasky on Saturday in Raleigh, N.C.

This is the second year for the East vs. West match, which pits top seniors from fall-playing high school soccer states. The All-American games, boys and girls, will be played this weekend along with the NCAA Men’s College Cup.

The East won last year’s inaugural girls All-American Game in Cary, N.C.

Stelbasky, a Butler recruit, helped Walsh win the Division I state championship last month in Columbus. She is a midfielder.

It is interesting to note that the state football champions in Division I, II, III and IV were Catholic schools and the state football champions in Division V, VI and VII were public schools from the same conference.

Lakewood St. Edward, Cincinnati LaSalle, Toledo Central Catholic and Cleveland Benedictine won the state titles between Division I and IV.

Coldwater, Minster and Maria Stein Marion Local of the Midwest Athletic Conference earned state titles between Division V and VII.

The 21st annual Walsh Jesuit Ironman Tournament is set for Friday and Saturday.

And once again another spectacular collection of wrestlers and teams are schedule to convene in Cuyahoga Falls.

Tournament directors Bob Preusse, Ken Dies, Bob Conley, Dale Hartwig and John Mascio are excited for this year’s event, which is scheduled to feature wrestlers from 86 schools from around the United States.

“This is the No. 1 consensus in-season high school tournament in USA,” Preusse said.

Stow boys basketball coach Dave Close will attempt to win his 500th career game Friday night when the Bulldogs host rival Cuyahoga Falls.

Athletic Director Cyle Feldman said Close has been Stow’s boys basketball coach since the 1988-1989 season after coaching at Painesville Riverside for three seasons.

“Dave Close has coached at a high level for many years, but the important thing is that he understands it is an extension to the classroom,” Feldman said. “We are preparing kids for life with life lessons. He has done this at a high level for a long time.”

“We recommended Aaron DeBord yesterday to the Board of Education,” Stow Athletic Director Cyle Feldman said. “We are very excited about Aaron DeBord leading our baseball program. He is a young head coach that is very knowledgeable, hard working and passionate about baseball. We are looking forward to his leadership. He is a very organized and very detailed guy.”

DeBord served as the baseball coach at Firestone the past two seasons. He is graduate of Woodridge and the University of Akron.

DeBord takes over the Stow baseball program from Bryan Celik, who guided the Bulldogs the past three seasons. Celik is a graduate of Firestone and the University of Akron, and was a baseball player for the Falcons and Zips.

St. Vincent-St. Mary senior Vince Lockett has committed to play football at the University of Akron.

Lockett contributed on St. V-M’s varsity football team in each of the past four years, helping the Fighting Irish reach the playoffs all four years and win Division III state championships during his sophomore and junior seasons.

Lockett, 18, is 5-foot-11 and 200-pounds. He chose UA over scholarship offers from the Air Force Academy, Indiana and Kent State.

“This is a good deal,” Lockett said. “Akron is definitely coming up. They have a lot of good things going on with the players, coaches and facilities. Plus, I have a lot of friends that already go to Akron. It’s a great fit for me.”

High school beat writer Michael Beaven will have live updates from tonight's Division II state championship game. The Nordonia Knights will face off against Cincinnati La Salle at 8 p.m. at Ohio Stadium.